pets on star ships?

[Methos]

it's pretty common knowledge that Data had his pet cat Spot aboard the Enterprise D, and logically E afterwards...

We also know Archer had his pet beagle... can't remember the name of the dog off my heart...

So i was just wondering, how common do people think it actually is for a crewmember to have a pet aboard a starship or space station?

In ships like the Galaxy Class ships, where families are welcome aboard, is it a leap to say the might have had a vet's area aboard, like the had a hairdressers and such?

just wondering really

M

 

[Draculasaurus]

I seem to remember a line in TNG somewhere, saying that there were about 12 cats on board the Enterprise. (or maybe it was 12 male cats?)

 

[Timo]

Sulu kept pet plants...

...And the whole idea of a starship having an arboretum seems to be in line with the keeping of pets. It's not as if the trees there could serve any scientific or engineering purpose, not the way the arboretum is portrayed in TOS or TNG. It's purely for pleasure and mental health, like pets. Or families.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Sandoval]

It's bound to be limited up to a certain point, possibly even a perk for senior officers.

There were over a thousand people onboard the Enterprise-D, imagine if every one of those chose to bring a Great Dane onboard as their pet. It's madness I tell you. Madness!

 

[Methos]

hmm, 12 cats on board a Galaxy class... considering the amount of families on board, thats a pretty realistic number...

i agree it might be senior staff only... or something you have to 'apply for' with the Captain... sort of 'at his discretion' thing

M

 

[F. King Daniel]

Enterprise's Doctor Phlox had lots of animals in his sickbay, including bats, lizards and even tribbles (which were used as food for the larger ones!)

 

[Methos]

heh, i'd forgotten about Phlox... haven't watched Enterprise in ages actually... might have to dig the DVd's out

M

 

[The_Baroness]

I'll tell you this for nothin'. You wouldn't want MY cat on a starship. She'd be chewing trough ODN relays and clawing her way through the outer hull before you knew what hit you...

 

[T'Girl]

In The Child, Deanna's son spoke of a litter of puppies being in the class room. When Uhura brough her tribble on board the Enterprise, no one (initally) though there was anything wrong with doing so.

And there's Picard's fish.

 

[ToddKent]

Chief O'Brien also had a pet spider on the Enterprise (but possibly not on DS9 as it was never mentioned).

And it looked like Klingons could have pets too since Kruge had a "whatever" on his ship.

 

[Sandoval]

And it looked like Klingons could have pets too since Kruge had a "whatever" on his ship.

Targ.

 

[Ethros]

I've never owned a cat, but don't they like to "go out" as it were. Its not like you could really just open the door to your quarters and let your cat go running around the Enterprise.
I know there are "house cats" who never leave the house, my auntie had cats like that, well, in that she didn't let them leave the house. To me that seemed pretty cruel.


Same for a dog. I suppose you could take it to the holodeck for a good runaround, but I always got the impression holodeck time was fairly limited to the number they had compared to the number of people on the ship. Like you'd have to book your time in advance kinda thing.

 

[Methos]

i have two 'housecats' really... they're allowed outside, i have a catflap for them, they just don't... i found it really odd at first, but they're both happy inside...

some cats are just like that lol

M

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Nothing compares to the one scene in the novel Enterprise: The First Adventure when the bridge is invaded by a horde of poodles.

True, they were part of a travelling circus troupe, but still.

 

[F. King Daniel]

^Don't forget the flying horse at the end!

And it looked like Klingons could have pets too since Kruge had a "whatever" on his ship.

Targ.

Targs resemble boars. Kruge's pet was totally different.

 

[Sandoval]

^Don't forget the flying horse at the end!

And it looked like Klingons could have pets too since Kruge had a "whatever" on his ship.

Targ.

Targs resemble boars. Kruge's pet was totally different.

Chihuahuas are totally different to Great Danes, they're just different breeds of the same thing.

Just a different type of Targ.

 

[Methos]

i'm siding with KingDaniel here... the script refers to it just as "The Beast"... no referance to a Targ whatsoever...

Doesn't look like a Targ to me...

M

 

[Winterwind]

I know there are "house cats" who never leave the house, my auntie had cats like that, well, in that she didn't let them leave the house. To me that seemed pretty cruel.

All depends on your definition of cruel. In most cities, it's a bylaw violation to let your cat roam "at large" and it's completely legal for your neighbour (for example) to take your cat to the animal shelter if it's on their property. Cats roaming free also run the risk of being attacked by other animals, run over by cars or abused by someone that doesn't like animals. It happens more often than you'd think.

As for pets on starships considering the risks involved, I wouldn't take my little guy anywhere near a ship. I love him far too much to watch him get sucked out a hull breach.

 

[jayrath]

Holy cow, people!

Tribbles!

 

[7thsealord]

As for pets on starships considering the risks involved, I wouldn't take my little guy anywhere near a ship. I love him far too much to watch him get sucked out a hull breach.

.... As distinct from a family member?

Just kidding.